We noted a storm developing in the 'cold core' part of the system (not quite in the very warm/humid airmass) and on the north side of the low, back around Hays. Having started the day there, this was a bit annoying - even more annoying is that a bit later this storm produced several photogenic tornadoes!
Anyway, we noticed the cumulus field to the NE of the low (our target) was getting deeper, and some approaching lift from the west would help this to develop, we determined.
Sure enough, a storm formed to the NE of the Hays storm, and we were already en route towards Concordia. We then plotted an intercept route to Jewell - the cloud bases were rather lower, and we'd run into somewhat cooler air around the frontal boundary. Even so, the storm was a potent supercell as it approached us, but the low cloud meant we couldn't really see any structure. We were positioned in the notch as the tornado-warned cell approached us, and we saw several areas of rotation - but we didn't see a tornado. Apparently, a rain-wrapped tornado did occur - but there was no way we were dicing around in the bear's cage of an HP supercell! The inflow winds into this were intense - probably 40-50mph at times.
We decided to leave the storm and then headed south and east in the general direction of Manhattan, Kansas, as other cells were developing. We sampled the back edge of one, getting some marble-sized hail - the cloud motions were very chaotic as the outflow from the storms back to the NW was interacting with the updraughts - the tail end of a line of storms just to our north received a tornado warning, and we could see a lowering and a very nice shelf cloud south of this - but no tornado.
In the end the cells weakened and we headed to Manhattan, and then back west to Salina, where we're staying the night. We had dinner with Lou, Ed, Maureen, Paul B, James, Nick, and others.
Not sure what we'll do tomorrow yet - a big mess of storms is likely way to the south, but I think we'll leave that and enjoy a relaxed day of not chasing!
Tornado-warned HP supercell near Jewell.
Panorama of a tornado warned cell (right hand side was where the rotation was) near Clay Center.
Same as above, but the right hand end.
Looking to the east at another cell from the same spot as above.
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